Sociology Report: Disability, Exclusion, and Inclusion in Australia

This sociology report explores the critical issue of social exclusion and inclusion of people with disabilities in Australia. The student's personal interest in the topic stems from witnessing firsthand the discrimination faced by a disabled friend. The report investigates the factors contributing to social exclusion, including low income, discrimination, and relationship breakdowns, while also examining the social theory of disability. The research methodology includes surveys, interviews, and literature reviews to analyze the experiences of disabled individuals and assess government policies. Findings highlight discrimination in employment and social settings, particularly for elderly disabled people. The report emphasizes the need for societal and governmental efforts to enhance social inclusion and combat negative attitudes towards people with disabilities. The report also draws comparisons with France's approach to disability inclusion.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Log...................................................................................................................................................4
Chapter 1..........................................................................................................................................6
Chapter 2........................................................................................................................................11
Chapter 3........................................................................................................................................16
Chapter 4........................................................................................................................................22
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................25
Reference List................................................................................................................................27

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Topic: Social exclusion and Inclusion of people with disability
Introduction:
Hypothesis
The topic that I have selected for my Personal Interest project is “Social Exclusion and
Inclusion of people with disability.” The term “people with disability” can be defined as the
condition that restrict the psychological, sensory, mobility function of an individual for
undertaking a task in the same way as a person who does not possess a disability perform. When
it comes to social exclusion, the term refers to a form of discrimination when an individual or a
group of individual is wholly or partially excluded from participating in social, economic as well
as political life of their community. From time immemorial disabled people are a major subject
of social exclusion. Low income rate, discrimination, relationship breakdown and crime or the
fear of crime are just some of the factors behind disabled people being socially excluded. In
order to eradicate this evil practice a good number of steps needs to be taken both by the society
as well as by the government in order to enhance social inclusion of the people with disabilities.
Theme and thesis
The focus of my PIP is to analyze how people with disabilities in Australia face social
exclusion and to evaluate what practices are necessary for enhancing social inclusion of the
mentioned group. The central hypothesis of this topic is disabled people in Australia is subjected
to excessive social exclusion and the chief factors responsible for the same includes low income
rate, discrimination, relationship breakdown and crime or the fear of crime.
Why did you choose this topic?

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I have selected this topic out of my personal interest. In my childhood, I had evidenced
how one of my disabled friend suffered from social exclusion just for the reason that she cannot
walk like the rest of the students. Some of my peers also used to laugh at her which had led her
to depression. The condition of my friend had highly affected me and I felt the need to research
on factors leading social exclusion of disabled people and how this evil practice can be
eradicated.
How does your topic contribute to a better understanding of the society?
My chosen topic will help m to understand the social factors that led to social exclusion
of the disabled people in Australia and the strategies taken by the local as well as federal
government to eradicate the practice.
SAC Concepts
Continuity and change aspects
The social continuity and change has been addressed in my PIP through the change
interpretation of common people about people with disability over time. Though, some steps
have been taken towards social exclusion, we still need to reach a position where social
exclusion of disabled people will be completely eradicated.
Social theory of change
In my PIP, the social theory of disability has been discussed. According to the theory,
disability is caused by the way society is organized, rather than by a person's impairment or
difference.
Primary and secondary methods used

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In order to conduct the research, I have segregated the discussion section of my PIP into
4 chapters. For the first three chapters I have followed survey as primary research philosophy
and literature review as secondary research methodology. For the fourth chapter I have conveyed
interview as primary researched methodology and literature review as secondary research
philosophy.
Log
When I was in junior school I had a good number of friends who were disabled. We used
to play indoor games together and I have never personally faced any issues while communicating
with them. However, from my childhood I had noticed how a good number of individual in our
neighbor used to discriminate them and treat them differently. This act used to surprise me and
as a child a huge number of questions used to arise in my mind.
Even after I moved to high school, I still had several questions unanswered related to the
topic. I found out that in our society a very few number of people have developed the ability to
include disabled people in social occasions. Initially, I decided to ignore the fact until I went
through a magazine that stated more than 30 percent of the disabled people are emotionally
depressed and facing a good number of psychological issues.
In order to pursue this PIP, I have personally met a good number of disabled individuals
and tried to understand their perspective or take on social exclusion. For this I had conducted a
survey. I also took help of academic research papers in order to evaluate the factors affecting
social inclusion of disabled people. While conducting the survey, my relationship with the
disabled people got developed a lot and this in turn acted as my inspiration.

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I had taken a good number of ethical factors into consideration while conducting the
research. For instance, all the participants were stated the reason behind conducting the research.
Not only this, all the participants were provided a consent form where it was clearly mentioned
that they can leave the study whenever they will want to. No pressure was imposed during the
survey. The academic papers for literature review are selected is from authorized and authentic
sources. During development of the research I initially found it difficult to pursue the
participants for research. However, when I stated them that the research will be carried out by
maintaining confidentiality along with the importance of the research to them, it became easier
for me to collect samples.
For the research paper, a mixed research methodology was followed. For quantitative
data collection, I develop a questionnaire to conduct a survey. The survey will help me to
understand the perspective and viewpoints of common people about the mentioned issue. In
order to collect data for qualitative analysis, I conducted a literature review. The literature review
helped me to gain an in depth idea of my research issue.

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Chapter 1
Thesis statement
From time immemorial, disabled individuals are treated by the society as objects of fear
or pity. In spite of the fact that modernization has change several stigmas associated with
disability, even now a good number of people are found to get stigmatized across the world.
Australia, in spite of being a developed country, is no exception when it comes to act of
exclusion against disabled people. The thesis statement of this chapter is that even in this era of
modernization, the major portion of the Australian society demonstrate act of exclusion as well
as social discrimination to the disabled individual of the nation.
Main ideas
Discrimination against disabled people is an emerging issue in the Australian society.
According to a recent survey conveyed, the nation has ranked 21st out of 29 countries when it
comes to employment rate of disabled people in both private as well as governmental sectors.
According to statistics, only 53 percent of the Australians who have disabilities are employed.
According to researchers, disabled people suffering from physiological disabilities have the
lowest employment rate in the nation which is near about 29 percent1. Apart from discrimination
in the professional field, a good number of complaints are lodged regularly in the Australian
Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the number of complaints is found to be steadily
increasing with time.
SAC concepts
1 Clarkson, P.J. and Coleman, R., 2015. History of Inclusive Design in the UK. Applied ergonomics, 46,
pp.235-247.

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According to researchers, disabilities, be it acquired or natural, carries with itself caries a
good number of stigma and superstition along with it2. For instance, if a person suddenly gets
blind for an accident or any other causes, he instantly becomes an object of sympathy or pity.
Disabled individuals in the Australian society are often tried to be kept away from a number of
major activities in the society (Grover and Piggott 2015) According to a survey, majority of the
people with disabilities are restricted when it comes to carrying out at least one everyday
activities lie self care, communication and mobility. Not only this, disabled people are also found
to be excluded from social gatherings like weddings or birthdays. Negative comments and even
physical torture from family members are also common when it comes to elderly disabled
individuals. In academic fields, only 43 percent schools in Australia integrates disabled students
in the same classroom as students without disabilities.
Continuity and change Aspects
In order to reduce physical as well as mental torture performed against disabled people,
the federal government of Australia has included a good number of rule and regulations in order
to protect disabled people. For instance, the Disability Discrimination Act in Australia is found
to protect individuals across the nation for unfair treatment in several areas of public life3. The
mention act also promotes equal opportunity, equal rights and equal access for people with
disabilities.
Cross-cultural Component
2 Collings, S., Dew, A. and Dowse, L., 2016. Support planning with people with intellectual disability and complex
support needs in the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental
Disability, 41(3), pp.272-276.
3 Cregan, C., Kulik, C.T. and Bainbridge, H.T., 2017. Differences in Well‐being among People with Disabilities in
Paid Employment: Level of Restriction, Gender and Labour Market Context. Social Policy & Administration, 51(7),
pp.1210-1230.

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When it comes to social treatment against people with disabilities it has been found that
France has ranked high in eliminating negative activities, discrimination as well as social
exclusion of disabled people in the society. In France more than 89.2 percent of the disabled
individuals are employed4. Not only this, disabled adults who have not been provided with
employment possess the legal right to claim 403 pound for singles and 666 pound for couples, as
long as they don’t possess financial resources more than 800 pound and 1600 pound respectively
per month.
Primary Research
In order to collect primary data for testing the above mentioned thesis, I have conducted
an interview. 5 participants from my own acquaintances have been selected by me for
conducting the interview. All the participants had undergone either acquired disability or natural
disability. The participants have been selected on the basis of non-probability sampling. I had
conducted an in-depth interview with each of the samples. A questionnaire based on the research
topic, that is hoe they are being treated as disabled individual by their family members an friend
as well as by the society has been prepared. In depth interview of 1 hour per participant was
conducted. The whole procedure of primary data collection had taken 3 days.
Secondary Research
In order to collect secondary data, I have performed content analysis. I have gathered a
good number of resources liked academic articles and government reports. The academic articles
were useful since it allowed me to access the types of discrimination and social exclusion faced
by the disabled people in Australia. The governmental reports on the other hand provided me
4 Grover, C. and Piggott, L. eds., 2015. Disabled people, work and welfare: Is employment really the answer?.
Policy Press.

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with statistical data that further authenticated my research paper. For content analysis, I
conducted content analysis I have decoded the qualitative data resources on the basis of their
significance and frequency of repetition.
Synthesis between Research Methods
From both primary and secondary data analysis, I obtain the result that, in Australia,
elderly disabled residents are the most ill treated group. Along with physical and physiological
assault, social discrimination is also conducted by family members, friend and other members of
the society.
Link back to the your thesis
This act clearly demonstrates social exclusion of disabled people in the Australian society.
Images
Figure 1: Income of People with Disabilities
Source (Krnjacki et al.2016)

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No harrazment psychological
Harazment Physical
harazment Both Physical
Assult an sociakl
discrimination
0
1
2
3
4
5
Participant Frequency
Participant Frequency
Figure 2: Data from the Survey conducted
Source (Created by the researcher)

11SOCIOLOGY
Chapter 2
Thesis statement
The term social exclusion includes lack of denial of the resources, goods and services
rights as well as inability to participate in normal relationships as well as activities that is
available for majority of the people in the society. People suffering from diabilites have been
excluded by the society from time immemorial. In chapter 2 I have tried to find out the chief
reasons behind exclusion of disabled people in the society. The thesis statement of chapter 2
includes physical, educational, legal, and financial as well as attitudinal barriers are the chief
reasons behind social exclusion of disabled people in the society of Australia.
Main ideas
The low education rate of disabled people is considered to be one of the chief
contributors to the social exclusion of disabled people in Australia. While the dropout rate of
disabled student in the nation is much lower than that of the non-disabled student, it can be
clearly understood that disability is not the reason behind lower education rate. Lack of
corporation from the government as well as from the society itself can be considered as the chief
reason behind this. Lower educational qualification is the chief contributor for lower
employment rate5. Lack of employment in turns, has resulted in poverty. Lack of capability to
earn money often results in social exclusion from the family. The social stigma associated with
having a disabled member in the family adds up to this.
SAC Concepts
5 Hill, L., Baker, C., Kelly, B. and Dowling, S., 2017. Being counted? Examining the prevalence of looked‐after
disabled children and young people across the UK. Child & Family Social Work, 22(1), pp.287-295.